Container having a pouring spout



May 2, 1944. E. H. LEVIN CONTAINER HAVING A POURING SPOUT Filed Jan. 29, 1942 Patented May 2, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTAINER HAVING A POURING SPOUT Eli H. Levin, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 29, 1942, Serial No. 428,709

1 Claim.

The invention relates to a container or carton of paper, cardboard or the like, and more particularly to such a container having a spout in the form of a trough integral therewith. The invention is particularly adapted for containers or cartons in which cereals, soap flakes, sugar and other granular or flaky products are packaged.

The novel invention comprehends a most effective pouring spout disposed in a corner of the container and which, when in dispensing or pouring position, is in the form of a substantally V- shaped trough. The construction, arrangement and location of the trough will most effectively and accurately dispense the contents of the container.

An object of the invention is to provide a container or carton having a pouring spout in the form of a V-shaped trough integral therewith for the purpose of dispensing the contents of the container in a definite stream and without spilling.

Another object is to provide a container or carton having a pouring spout or trough which will also act as an efiicient and neat closure for the container and which may be readily placed in position, either for pouring the contents from the container or for closing the container. This closure not only enables the user to protect the contents from contamination by dirt, dampness or the like, but also, when not in use, the container or carton will present a neat, attractive appearance with no loose, torn parts protruding therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide I a container with an integral pouring spout or trough which can be made at substantially the same cost as containerswithout this improvement. Thepresent invention may be made from a blank only very slightly changed from the usual container blank so that to form and fill the container will involve only minor changes in the It is a further object of the invention to provide a construction inwhich the spout may be placed in operative position with a minimum of cuttng and effort on the part of the user and may be pulled ,out of and pushed back into the container very easily and simply.

It is another object of the invention to provide a'spo'ut in a comer of the container whereby to facilitate dispensing of the contents and to ascutting and scoring equipment and, substantially no change in the machinery for folding, gluing =and filling a'container without this improvement.

sure complete discharge thereof with a minimum of effort.

Another object is to provide a V-shaped spout or trough for a container which in no way obstructs or decreases the effective area of the container whether in closed or pouring positions, which at no time will have parts protruding into the interior to interfere with the filling of the container, and which will permit the insertion of an innerliner or bag.

Another object is to provide a pouring spout for a container whereby the dispensing opening may be regulated.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, efliciency, economy and ease of assembly and operation, and such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear and are inherently possessed thereby.

The invention further resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and while I have shown therein preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the same are susceptible of modification and change, and comprehend other details, arrangements of parts, features and constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the novel cardboard container of the present invention with the spout in pouring position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the novel container before it has been cut or broken to permit the withdrawal of the spout.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the container blank prior to assembly.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the container in vertical cross-section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 2, but also showing in dotted outlin the pouring spout in open position.

Fig. 5 is a view in horizontal cross-section takenon theline 55 of Fig. 4.

6 is a fragmentary view in vertical crosssection of the upper portion of a container provided with a modified form of pouring spout.

Referring more particularly to the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawing, there is disclosed a container I having a substantially V-shapcd trough or spout 2 provided in a comer of the container. This container is of the usual type employed for packaging cereals, soap flakes, sugar and similar products of a flaky or granular formation and is made from a blank 3 of cardboard, paper or the like comprising front 4, rear to the side panel 1 by means of glue or other adhesive 8 applied thereto.

This blank is'scored as indicated by dotted lines and cut as indicated by full lines in the manner well-known to the art and differs from the conventional type of container blank only in that the flap I1 is provided at its upper portion with a substantially triangular extension l9 which may be separated from the rest of the blank I! by cut 20 to thereby make the portion IS an extension of the front 4. Where an absolutely air-tight container is desired the glue 8 may extend the entire length of the panel I, as shown in Fig. 3, but where this air-tightness is not essential, adhesive may be applied only to the portion of the panel I which will contact the flap below the triangular section IS. The front 4 of the container is scored on the line 2| extending inwardly and upwardly from the lowermost portion of the extension 9 to a point adjacent the top of the container. The front 4 is also provided with a heavy printed or perforated line 22 just below theroof or interior surface of the top of the container, to thereby define a substantially triangular portion 24. Adhesive is applied to the bottom and top panels, as indicated, and the container is folded, glued and filled in the manner well known to the art.

Just prior to use, the container is cut or broken along the line 22 and the extension I9 is separated from the side panel I by inserting a knife or other suitable instrument between this extension l9 and the adjacent edge of the panel I. It is understood that when no adhesive is applied to the extension l9 this latter operation is not necessary.

It is apparent that the spout 2 comprises the triangular portion 24 of the front 4 above the line 2| and the extension I9 of the flap II. The scored line 25 between these portions '24 and I9 forms the base of the spout, which portions provide a substantially V-shaped trough with its sides adapted to control the flow of the contents. This enables the contents to be poured and directed in a definite and accurately controllable stream as distinguished from containers having hinged closures which provide merely an opening for removing the contents and those having relatively wide and flat pouring spouts. The spout is thus located at acorner of the containerand pivoted or hinged on scored line 2|. To open the spout for use it is merely necessary for the user to insert a fingernail or any handy instrument in the upper corner of the front of the container and pull the spout outwardly until the innermost edge or corner 23 of the hinge I9 is free of the container. When released this edge or corner 23 will catchonor abut against an edge of the opening resulting from the withdrawal of the spout and will remain in that position by reason of the pressure or tension exerted due to the bending of the material along the line 2| forming the hinge, and which tends to force the spout back to its original position.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the angle between the upper edge of extension I! when in closed position and the top of the container is On the order 01'30". This angle permits pulling the extension l9 out of the container where it will abut weight to move the spout when the container is placed in pouring position.

When heavier and/or free flowing products are packaged in the container, as for example, sugar, it is desirable to limit the extent to which the spout may be opened, and in this form of the invention, it is intended that the side of the spout be prevented from complete withdrawal. When the container is used for packaging such materials, the extension I is cut in such a way that the angle between it and the top of the box is much less than 30, so that when the spout is withdrawn the rear comer 23a of the extension |9a will contact the top of the container which acts as a stop for the spout and prevents these heavier products from completely opening the spout which would cause spilling. (See Fig. 6.) With some of the products it is not necessary for the user to open the spout at all. The container is merely turned to pouring position, whereupon the weight of the contents will force the spout open, permitting the contents to be pouredtherefrom, but without danger of spilling because of the stop arrangement preventing complete removal of the spout.

When the desired amount of the contents have been poured from the container, the spout is then pushed back into the container where it provides an efllcient closure therefor which will adequately protect the contents from contamination by dirt, moisture or the like, and at the same time present a very neat and orderly appearance and eliminate any torn, loose ends protruding from the container.

The pressure exerted by the hinge 2| will partially force the spout back into the container when the.corner 23 is released from the side or top thereof and will also tend to retain the spout in the container when it is acting as a closure therefor. This retention of the spout in the container will be assisted when an inner-liner is used for the contents of the container as a certain amount of friction will be exerted against the extension l9 by the inner liner.

It is well-known that all container blanks are not folded and glued exactly as shown in the drawing, wherea fold integral with an end or side wall is glued to the front panel. In some instances, the front is glued to the right hand side panel and in others the rear face is glued to one or the other of the side panels. In such instances it will be readily apparent that the spout would be on the right hand side of the front or on the rear or side panels, depending on the particular blank used, but the invention is equally applicable to each of these changed constructions, by merely adding the triangular extension Is to the proper panel and by scoring the adjacent panel with the line 2|. The spout could also be spaced from the top of the container, if desired, by merely lowering the scored line 22.

To lessen the cost of manufacture or to injacent the triangular extension forming thereangular portion of this side of the container adwith a substantially V-shaped pouring spout in one corner of the container, the base oi the triangular portion being scored to form an edge providing a pivotal hinge connection for the spout and the other two sides of this triangular portion being marked for separation from the adjacent top and side of the'oontainer, one plane edge oi. the triangular extension being so arranged that when the spout is withdrawn for pouring, this edge abuts against an adjacent surface oi the container andretains the spout in pouring position.

ELI H. LEVIN. 

